Tom Chao

Tom Chao

Tom Chao has contributed to SPACE.com as a producer and writer since 2000. As a writer and editor, he has worked for the Voyager Company, Time Inc. New Media, HarperCollins and Worth Publishers. He has a bachelor’s degree in Cinema Production from the University of Southern California, and a master’s degree from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Tom on Google+.

Latest articles by Tom Chao

The Watch Tower by Jeff Berkes

Milky Way Shines Over Grand Canyon Watchtower in Spectacular Photo

By Tom Chao published

Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes sent in an image of the Milky Way soaring over the Grand Canyon.

Galaxies
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Dragon CRS-2 mission on March 1, 2013.

Photos: SpaceX Dragon Launches on Third Flight to Space Station

By Tom Chao published

SpaceX launched its Dragon space capsule March 1 toward the International Space Station.

Private Spaceflight
Comet Lemmon Seen in New Zealand

Stunning Night Sky Photos of February 2013

By Tom Chao published

Amateur astronomers have sent in some amazing views of the night sky this month.

Astrophotography
Happy New Year from NASA's Cassini mission at Saturn!

Image of the Day: January 2013

By Tom Chao published

Spectacular images every day.

Astrophotography
Curiosity Replica In Obama's Inaugural Parade

NASA Photos of President Obama's Second Inauguration

By Tom Chao published

See photos of NASA's celebration of President Obama's second inauguration in January 2013.

Space Exploration
Star Trails Seen from the ISS

100 Best Space Photos of 2012: Gallery

By Tom Chao published

See our top 100 images of the year in space exploration and astronomy!

Astrophotography
Saturn's moon Mimas is dominated by a huge, unmistakable crater called Herschel that makes the moon look like the Death Star in the movie "Star Wars." On Feb. 13, 2010, NASA's Cassini spacecraft made closest-ever flyby of Mimas, returning this photo an

10 Real Alien Worlds That Resemble 'Star Wars' Planets

By Tom Chao published

These real planets, moons and asteroids match anything imagined by George Lucas for the "Star Wars" universe.

Space Movies & Shows
Clusters of yellow lights on the Indo-Gangetic Plain reveal numerous cities large and small in this astronaut photograph of northern India and northern Pakistan.

Image of the Day: September 2011

By Tom Chao published

Spectacular images every day.

Astrophotography
ALMA Antenna on the Road

Image of the Day: August 2011

By Tom Chao published

Spectacular images every day.

Astrophotography
90 Days on Mars: Phoenix Lander Sends Martian Postcard

Photos: NASA's Phoenix Lander on Mars

By Tom Chao published

See photos from NASA's successful Phoenix Mars Lander mission, which explored the Martian arctic in search of water ice.

Mars
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity recorded this view of a crater informally named "Freedom 7." The image combines two frames that Opportunity took with its navigation camera on May 2, 2011.

Mars Crater Named After Historic Freedom 7 Spacecraft

By Tom Chao published

Just after the anniversary of Alan Shepard's flight, scientists named a crater in his honor

Mars
Japan's Venus Climate Orbiter "Akatsuki" will both the atmosphere and surface of Venus.

Lost In Space: 8 Biggest Space Misfires of 2010

By Mike Wall, Tom Chao published

While 2010 saw many historic successes in spaceflight and space science, plenty of things went wrong this year, too.

Space Shuttle
Packing for Mars Book Cover

Book Review — 'Packing for Mars' Travels Light

By Tom Chao published

"Packing for Mars" by Mary Roach delves into the minutiae of human spaceflight.

Space Books
Packing for Mars Book Cover

Book Review — 'Packing for Mars' Travels Light

By Tom Chao published

"Packing for Mars" by Mary Roach delves into the minutiae of human spaceflight.

Space Books
Space Station Wins Prestigious Collier Trophy

Space Station Wins Prestigious Collier Trophy

By Tom Chao published

The International Space Station Program has won the prestigious 2009 Collier Trophy.

International Space Station
Thar She Blows! Saturn Moon Looks Like Moby Dick

Thar She Blows! Saturn Moon Looks Like Moby Dick

By Tom Chao published

Prometheus, Saturn's moon, appears to float toward the viewer in this 3-D rendering.

Saturn
Shuttle Atlantis Closing In On Space Station

NASA Airs ‘Reality Show’ From Space

By Tom Chao published

NASA has begun streaming video online from cameras inside the International Space Station.

Space Exploration
NASA Planet-Hunting Mission Could Find Spock's Homeworld

NASA Planet-Hunting Mission Could Find Spock's Homeworld

By Tom Chao published

SIM PlanetQuest mission will scan star 40 Eridani for a Vulcan-like planet.

Space Movies & Shows
Boom, Boom, Boom Goes Starbirth

Boom, Boom, Boom Goes Starbirth

By Tom Chao published

Globular star clusters may not form in a single "boom," as previously thought.

Stars
Crew Selected for Mock Mars Mission

Europe to Join 500-Day Mock Mission to Mars

By Tom Chao published

The European Space Agency (ESA) will partner with Russian researchers to lock a crew of six people in metal tubes for a simulated trip to Mars.

Mars
1 2 3 4 Archives